Cabinet with an invertible horizontal or sloped work writing top



L. J. FAY

June 15, 1965 CABINET WITH AN INVERTIBLE HORIZONTAL OR SLOPED WORK WRITING TOP 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 1'7, 1962 INVENTOR. 44%(36' z/ 1 y BY M 2 I ATTOR YS June 1965 L. J. FAY 3,1 89,394

CABINET WITH AN INVERTIBLE HORIZONTAL 0R SLOPED WORK WRITING TOP Filed Sept. 17, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lucid ATT RNEYS United States Patent (IABTNET' WITH AN INVERTTBLE HORTZGNTAL 0R SLOPED WGRK WRITTNG TOP Lawrence J. Fay, Elgin, 11]., assignor to Equipto Electronics Corporation, Naperviile, 1th., a corporation of Illinois Filed Sept. 17, 1962, Ser. No. 224,014

7 Claims. ((11. 312 231) The present invention relates generally to an invertible work writing top and more particularly to a top adapted to be mounted on a front side of different types of cabinets.

In the past, work writing tops have been developed to provide horizontal work writing surfaces. It has now been found that the prior types of work writing tops can be redesigned to provide a work writing top that can be mounted on a cabinet so as to provide a horizontal writing surface or an inclined writing surface. Where several cabinets are to be placed in side-by-side relation, it has further been found that a single invertible type work Writing top can be provided for mounting on both of the cabinets.

According to further important features of this invention, the work writing top is provided with means which permits it to be mounted on a vertical front type cabinet or on a sloped front type of cabinet.

Another feature of the present invention relates to the provision of mounting means for vertical type work writing tops whereby the top surface of the work writing top, whether it be the inclined surface or the horizontal surface, can be maintained at a level plane so that its rear edge is at the juncture of the sloped face of the cabinet with the vertical face of the cabinet.

An important object of this invention is to provide a new and improved invertible work writing top which can be used to provide either an inclined or a horizontal writing surface.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an invertible work writing top having means for securing a writing panel on either of its vertically opposite sides either in a horizontal or in an inclined plane.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a sturdy high quality invertible type work writing top for installation on various types of cabinets.

According to important features of this invention, a work writing top is mounted on a front face of a cabinet,

and a removable work writing top panel is provided with means for mounting it on either of vertically opposite sides of the writing top with the Work writing top panel defining a horizontal writing surface when mounted on one side of the work writing top and defining an inclined writing surface when mounted on an opposite side of the work writing top.

Other objects and features of the present invention will more fully become apparent in view of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings illustrating therein several embodiments and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cabinet having an invertible work writing top mounted thereon;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the lines II-II looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear view of the work writing top shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section similar to FIGURE 2 only illustrating a modified type of work writing top mounted on a sloped front type of cabinet;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of the work writing top shown in FIGURE 4 only with the panel removed;

FIGURE 6 is a rear view of the writing top shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top view of a modified type of work writing top with the dotted lines indicating a pair of cabinets; and

FIGURE 8 is a rear view of the work writing top shown in FIGURE 7.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a vertical trunk type of cabinet having an invertible work writing top 11 mounted thereon in accordance with important features of the present invention. The cabinet 10 is generally of the type disclosed in my copending application entitled Equipment Enclosure Structure, Serial No.

50,226, filed August 17, 19-60, now US. Patent No. 3,075,818.

The cabinet 19 includes a pair of vertical cabinet posts 1212. Mounted transversely of the post 12 is perforated strut 13 as shown in FIGURE 2. Means indicated generally at 14 is provided for securing the invertible work writing top 11 to the transverse strut 13.

In more detail, the work writing top 11 comprises a writing panel or shelf mounting frame 15 which includes spaced writing shelf side panels or cowlings 16 and 17, a writing shelf front panel or cowling 18 and writing shelf lower and upper rear panels or cowlings 19 and 211. These cowlings are secured together by any suitable means and preferably by welds. The cowlings can also be secured together by fasteners, if desired.

The side cowlings 16 and 17 are provided with writing upper and lower panel or shelf attachment flanges 21 and 22 as shown in FIGURE 2. A work writing shelf or panel 23 is provided for mounting: on either of vertically opposite sides of the work writing top 11. If desired, a pair of panels or shelves 23 can be provided for mounting on both sides. It will be noted that the writing shelf mounting flanges 21 are disposed in a horizontal plane with respect to one another so that when the panel or shelf 23 is secured thereon by means of screws 24, the shelf or panel will be disposed in a horizontal plane providing a horizontal writing surface. The lower shelf mounting flanges 22 are disposed in an inclined plane so that when the panel or shelf 23 is secured thereto by means of screws 24, the panel or shelf will be disposed in an inclined plane providing an inclined writing surface. Due to the fact that the flanges 21 and 22 are inset with respect to the upper and lower planes of the top 11, the top surface of the panel or shelf will lie flush with either side of the work writing top. The work writing panel or shelf 23 can be made of any suitable material such as metal, plastic and the like.

Panel or cowling brackets 25 and 26 are secured with the upper and lower rear cowlings 19 and 2th by welds or other suitable means such as fasteners. A pair of writing top attachment U-shaped brackets 27 and 28 are spaced transversely between the side cowlings 16 and 17 and vertically between the upper and lower rear cowlings 1? and 20. The U-shaped brackets 27 and 28 are identical to one another and a description of one will sufiice for both.

The U-shaped bracket 27 has its legs 27a-27a secured with the cowling brackets 25 and 26 by means of suitable fasteners 29. The fasteners illustrated comprise nuts and bolts.

The mounting means 14 further includes a pair of U- shaped brackets 3% and 31 and a pair of Z-shaped strips 32 and 33. The brackets 30 and 31 have legs fitla and 31a which are secured in welded assembly with the strips 32 and 33.

In mounting the writing top 11 on the cabinet 10, the assembly, including the brackets 39 and 31, may be first secured to the transverse strut 13 by means of suitable fasteners 34 which join base leg 31b of the bracket 31 Patented June 155, 1955 "3 I as with the strut l3. Thereafter, fasteners 35 are inserted through bracket holes 27d and 28d for securing base leg 27!; of the bracket 27 with base leg 3%.

As illustrated, the writing top 11 has its uppermost surface disposed in a horizontal plane. If desired, the writing top 11 can be inverted after removing the fasteners 35 to dispose the inclined surface of the writing top topside whereupon the fasteners 35 are again secured in position to join the writing top 11 in its inverted position with the cabinet iii.

A modified sloped front type of cabinet iii is shown in FIGURE 4 having a work writing top 1.1 mounted thereon. The Work writing top 11, shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6, is identical to the one shown in FIGURES 2 and 3, except that the U-shaped brackets 27' and 28 are provided with three holes 27d and 28d (FIGURE 6) instead of the two holes 2761 and 28d on each bracket (FIGURE 3).

A slightly different type of mounting means 14 is provided for securing the writing top 11 on the sloped front cabinet Iltl so that the top surface of the rear edge of the writing top will, at all times, be disposed at a juncture 40 between sloped cabinet face 41 and vertical cabinet face 42, as shown in FIGURE 4. The modified mounting 14' includes a pair of U-shaped brackets 3i) and 31' which are identical to the brackets 39 and 31 except that legs 3% and 31a are welded directly together and the upper Z-shaped strip 32 is welded onto cabinet leg 42a. The strip 33 is welded to the leg 3'iia'.

The holes 27d and 28d are so spaced with respect to one another that when the fasteners 35 secure the writing top to the sloped front cabinet the rear edge of the upper surface of the writing top will be disposed at the junction 40 between sloped cabinet surface 41 and the vertical cabinet surface 42. If it is desired to invert the writing top 11, then the lower two holes 27d and 28d on each bracket 27 and 23' are utilized rather than the upper two holes. It is in this way that the particular surface of the writing top, which is uppermost at any given time, will have its rear edge at the junction 49.

Shown in FIGURES 7 and 8 is a modified type of invertible work writing top St The work writing top 5%) is essentially identical to the work writing top 11 except that it has been enlarged so as to be capable of having two or more work writing panels or shelves 53 mounted thereon. It is in this way that a single work writing top may be mounted on a series of cabinets 16". The Work writing top 54 may be expanded in size so that it can be mounted on three cabinets instead of two cabinets, as illustrated. The work writing top 50 is adapted to be as sembled with the cabinets Iii in the same manner as the work writing top ill, shown in FIGURES 4-6.

The work writing top 50 includes side panels or cowlings 56 and 57 as well as a front panel or cowling 58 and vertically spaced rear cowlings 59 and 60. A center panel 62 is provided midway between the ends of the cowlings 58 and 59 to provide supports for panel support flanges 63. Additional panel support flanges 63' are provided on the side cowlings 56 and 57.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

1 claim as my invention:

1. In a cabinet structure including a cabinet, the improvement of a work writing top mounted on a front face of the cabinet,

said top comprising spaced side cowlings,

a front cowling and vertically spaced upper and lower rear cowlings, the front and rear cowlings being joined at opposite ends with the side cowlings,

horizontal panel support flanges secured below a top horizontal surface of the writing top between the cowlings and a second set of inclined panel support flanges secured with the writing top inwardly of an 4% inclined opposite surface of the writing top between the cowlings,

a removable writing top panel adapted to be framed within the cowlings having means for securing the writing top panel to either of said sets of flanges, and

mounting means supported by said rear cowlings enabling the writing top to be attached with either a horizontal or an inclined writing surface being topside of the work writing top.

2. A work writing top for mounting on a front face of a cabinet,

said top comprising spaced side cowlings,

a front cowling and vertically spaced upper and lower rear cowlings, the front and rear cowlings being joined at opposite ends with the side cowlings,

horizontal panel support flanges secured below a top horizontal surface of the writing top between the cowlings and a second set of inclined panel support flanges secured with the writing top inwardly of an inclined opposite surface of the writing top between the cowlings,

a removable writing top panel adapted to be framed within the cowlings having means for securing the writing top panel to either of said sets of flanges, and

mounting means supported by said rear cowlings enabling the writing top to be attached with either a horizontal or an inclined writing surface beingrtopside of the work Writing top.

3. In a cabinet structure including a cabinet, the improvement of a work writing top mounted on a front face of the cabinet,

said top comprising spaced side cowlings,

a front cowling and vertically spaced upper and lower rear cowlings, the front and rear cowlings being joined at opposite ends with the side cowlings,

horizontal panel support flanges secured below a top horizontal surface of the writing top between the cowlings and a second set of inclined panel support flanges secured with the writing top inwardly of an inclined opposite surface of the writing top between the cowlings,

a series of removable writing top panels and means for securing the writing top panels to other of said sets of flanges, and

mounting means supported by said rear cowlings enabling the writing top to be attached with either a horizontal or an inclined writing surface being topside of the work writing top.

4. In a cabinet structure including a series of cabinets disposed in side-by-side relation, the improvement of a single writing top for attachment with front faces of all of said cabinets,

a front cowi-ing and vertically spaced upper and lower rear cowlings, the front and rear cowlings being joined at opposite ends with the side cowlings,

horizontal panel support flanges secured below a top horizontal surface of the writing top between the cowlings and a second set of inclined panel support flanges secured with the writing top inwardly of an inclined opposite surface of the writing top between the cowlings,

at least one removable Writing top panel adapted to be framed within the cowlings having means for securing the writing top panel to either of said sets of flanges, and mounting means supported by said rear cowlings enabling the writing top to be attached with either a horizontal or an inclined writing surface being topside of the work writing top.

5. A work writing top for mounting on a front face of a cabinet,

said top having .a greater vertical height at its rear edge than at its fonward edge prov-id ing either a horizontal 'Wni'ting surface or an inclined writing surface on its opposite sides,

said top having rectangular cowling means with a central opening exposed on opposite sides of the top,

a removable writing top panel adapted to be framed Within the co wling means having means for securing the writing top panel to said coWl-ing means in said opening at either side of said top, and

mounting means supported by said rear edge of said top enabling the Writing top to be attached to a cabinet with either a horizontal or an inclined writing surface being topside of the work Writing top.

6. In a cabinet structure including a cabinet, the improvement of an invertible parallel sided work writing top mounted on a front race of the cabinet having a central opening exposed at top and bottom faces of the top,

the top having a greater vertical dimension at its rear end as compared to its forward end,

brackets provided on said top at said rear end and aecessible through said openings,

fastening means for joining said rear end of said top a 'with either face of said top being topside,

a removable writing top panel adapted to be framed Within said central opening, and means for securing the writing top panel in said opening to said top along either face of the top. 7. In a cabinet structure including a cabinet, the improvement of an invertible parallel sided work Writing top mounted on a front face of the cabinet having a central opening exposed at top and bottom faces of the top,

the top having .a greater vertical dimension at its rear end as compared to its forward end,

slotted attachment brackets provided on said top at i References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,855,261 10/58 Wells et al. 3 1-2- 25 7 3,028,211 4/ 62 Wells et a1. 312-257 FOREIGN PATENTS 797,496 7/5 8 Great Britain. 865,101 4/61 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CABINET STRUCTURE INCLUDING A CABINET, THE IMPROVEMENT OF A WORK WRITING TOP MOUNTED ON A FRONT FACE OF THE CABINET, SAID TOP COMPRISING SPACED SIDE COWLINGS, A FRONT COWLING AND VERTICALLY SPACED UPPER AND LOWER REAR COWLINGS, THE FRONT AND REAR COWLINGS BEING JOINED AT OPPOSITE ENDS WITH THE SIDE COWLINGS, HORIZONTAL PANEL SUPPORT FLANGES SECURED BELOW A TOP HORIZONTAL SURFACE OF THE WRITING TOP BETWEEN THE COWLINGS AND A SECOND SET OF INCLINED PANEL SUPPORT FLANGES SECURED WITH THE WRITING TOP INWARDLY OF AN INCLINED OPPOSITE SURFACE OF THE WRITING TOP BETWEEN THE COWLINGS, A REMOVABLE WRITING TOP PANEL ADAPTED TO BE FRAMED WITHIN THE COWLINGS HAVING MEANS FOR SECURING THE WRITING TOP PANEL TO EITHER OF SAID SETS OF FLANGES, AND MOUNTING MEANS SUPPORTED BY SAID REAR COWLINGS ENABLING THE WRITING TOP TO BE ATTACHED WITH EITHER A HORIZONTAL OR AN INCLINED WRITING SURFACE BEING TOPSIDE OF THE WORK WRITING TOP. 